Bharat Biotech explains who shouldn't take Covaxin shot

The ministry had asked pregnant and lactating women to not take the Covid-19 vaccine

The indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, should not be administered to people, who are either immuno-compromised or on a medication that impacts the immune system, the company has warned going against the government advice.

In a fact-sheet released by Bharat Biotech two days after vaccine roll-out, the manufacturer of Covaxin said that the home-grown vaccine – being used commercially in a “clinical trial mode” - should not be given to people who are “immune-compromised or are on a medicine that affects the immune system”.

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Here's a look at Bharat Biotech's fact sheet on who should not take Covaxin shot:

1. Those who have weaker immunity or are on a medicine that affects their immune system must not take the Covaxin shot.

2. People who have a history of allergies, those who have a fever, those who have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner must not be injected with Covaxin.

3. Pregnant and lactating women and those with any other serious health-related issues must not be administered Covaxin.

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4. Even the ones who have received another Covid-19 vaccine, should not be given Covaxin shot.

The Union Health Ministry, in a letter to the state governments on the eve of the vaccine roll-out, stated that none of the two Indian vaccines were contraindicated against the persons with immune-deficiency or who are on immunosuppression drugs. The only caveat was that the response to the vaccines would be lower in such individuals.

On Twitter, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan claimed information related to Covaxin’s contra-indications are already available in the public domain. “It's highly deplorable to spread misinformation without due diligence,” the minister tweeted.

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However, none of the minister’s three tweets on January 15 mention anything about immune-compromised people or the individuals who are on a blood thinner.

Asked about such contra-indications, NITI Ayog member Vinod Paul on Tuesday said that the government had already made such a list public. Paul, however, did not dwell on the specifics like immune-compromised individuals or those on blood thinners.

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The ministry does not forbid the vaccine’s use in people with chronic health complications such as cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, metabolic and renal diseases, and in malignancies.

Serum Institute’s Covishield – same as the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine –, on the other hand, is not permitted only for people who are allergic to a previous dose of the vaccine or any ingredients to the vaccine.

The concerns on who could get the vaccine flare-up in the last two days after more than 500 persons reported adverse effects following immunisation (AEFI) following the rollout even though very few of them are serious one. Two persons also died but preliminary investigations ruled out any link to the Covid-19 vaccinations in both cases.